James Warlick – American co-chair or instigator?

Azerbaijan sent a protest note Dec. 15 to the US over a meeting between the OSCE Minsk Group's American Co-Chair James Warlick and the so-called foreign minister of the separatist regime created by Armenia in Azerbaijan's occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region.

It is true that before the note was issued, Warlick hastened to justify himself explaining his action as a desire "to hear the voice" of "the population" of Nagorno-Karabakh.

However, he "forgets" that the representatives of the separatist regime of Nagorno-Karabakh have no relation to the Azerbaijani population of the region, expelled by Armenian military from their lands.

Those, who today represent Azerbaijani region occupied by Armenia are invaders and occupiers, with whom it is impossible to discuss a fair outcome of the conflict, as such a thing does not suit them.

Participation of the OSCE Minsk Group's American co-chair in a meeting that was clearly aimed against Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, which the Minsk Group was designed to fight for, causes doubts regarding the impartiality of the US in this matter.

A lot of questions arise especially in connection with the US policy regarding the leadership of other similar separatist regimes.

Representatives of the separatist regime of Nagorno-Karabakh, which have been using spineless international institutions, including the OSCE for over twenty years, have occupied Azerbaijani territories, and not just easily get US visas but are also received by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair during private visits to the United States.

An example of double standards and the mediators' negligent handling of their duties is obvious in this complex conflict, which constantly takes human lives away. Such actions of Warlick clearly don't contribute to progress in the negotiation process, but on the contrary, strengthen Armenia in its ignoring international law and encourage the total impunity of Yerevan, which is in charge of the puppet regime in Nagorno-Karabakh.

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Elmira Tariverdiyeva is the head of Trend Agency's Russian News Service